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IT HAPPENED LIKE THIS:

Picture this, here I am at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem.
I’m waiting for an angel to stir the water because people say the first person into the pool after the angel causes ripples in the water will be cured.
I’ve been sick for 38 years.

There are a lot of people packed in here.
Some are propped against the columns.
Some are crouched on the steps.
Some are sprawled around the pool.
All are intently watching the surface of the Bethesda pool.
Nearly everyone is maneuvering to get as close as possible to water’s edge.

Anyone attempting to walk around Bethesda would find it slow going.
There’s a lot of rivalry here.
There’s a lot of chaos here.
There’s a lot of passion here.

Everyone expects to be first to jump into the Pool at Bethesda.
Everyone has a dream.
Everyone is focused on the water, ready to dive.

Occasionally, there are misguided leaps into the pool.
I’ve done it myself.
People are desperate for help.
Do miracles happen?
We all hold onto hope.

THEN, I HEARD A VOICE

I never noticed his presence.
I didn’t glance away from Bethesda, but
I did hear his voice.
Until then I felt abandoned.
Until then few spoke to me.
Until then no one offered sympathy.
“Do you want to be well?”

THE VOICE SPOKE HOPE

I thought the voice ridiculed me.
I guessed the voice teased me.
I suspected the voice meant mischief
“Well I have no one …”

I OBEYED

The voice ignored my excuse.
The voice spoke with assurance and authority.
The voice said,
“Get up, take your mat and leave.”
I did as the voice commanded.
I stood
I walked
I looked around to say thank you
The voice was gone.

My tears flowed in thanksgiving
In relief.
Unknown to me, this was the first time I met Jesus.

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I asked myself, “Can you see the big picture?” Do you see what’s going on?

And I answered myself, “Sure, contempt and chaos are everywhere.”

Chaos and contempt exists in some homes.
Contempt and chaos exists at some jobs.
Chaos and contempt exists in some churches.
Contempt and chaos exists in our politics.
Chaos and contempt exists within me.

Advent offers me a new beginning. It offers me a chance to exchange contempt and chaos for peace and joy.
And, what does peace and joy look like?

It looks like respect for God because he kept his promise.
It looks like Jesus feeding the spiritually and emotionally hungry.
It looks like loving someone else just as God loved me.

In the big picture, it’s true.
What’s true?

The door of opportunity faces us. When we knock the door is opened.
In the big picture, we’re no longer trapped by contempt and chaos.
We can delight in the new beginning.

In Advent, God extends another chance to view life from the new perspective.

This perspective honors and respects God with our next thought and next action.
This perspective dares to reject calling God a liar.
This perspective challenges empty ridicule of God’s gift to us.

So, what’s the benefit of seeing and believing this new beginning?

How about anxiety exchanged for peace that passes all understanding?
How about joy exchanged for chaos and contempt?
How about it’s okay to let God love you?

I jumped on that. “Right because the Bible says so,” I said confidently.

“What if there wasn’t any Bible?” Ernie responded. “Would you have any reasonable evidence for the truth of Christianity?”

“Um, where are you going with this Ernie?”

Ernie replied, “OK, listen, a Buddhist can say ‘I’ve always been a Buddhist.’ Or ‘my parents we’re Buddhist so I’m a Buddhist.’ Or ‘I just believe, I don’t have to have a reason or any evidence.’ Wouldn’t this be blind faith or accidental faith or faith founded on experience?”

I was reluctant to consent to Ernie’s point. “Maybe.”

“Muslims could say the same things. Atheists could say the same things. Mormons could say the same things. Their belief is supported by experience without objective proof. Could these people verify, ‘Because it’s true,’ with a statement that offers reasonable evidence?”

“Uh, I don’t think so.”

“Well how about Christianity? Why is it true? Is there any reasonable proof Christianity is true?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“What would you offer as evidence you believe in Christ?”

“The Bible.”

“OK the Bible, that’s another topic, but what besides the Bible?”

“Isn’t that enough?”

“What if it isn’t? What would you say?”

“I don’t know … I’d probably walk away.”

“And how would that be helpful to the person asking you why you are a Christian?”

“OK, OK, so what would you say?”

“Let me offer three choices. 1) Evidence of first cause. 2) Evidence of purpose or design. 3) Evidence of universal morality and ethics.”

“Huh?”

“Reasonable proof that God is the un-caused cause of all that is caused. Cause and effect. Or, the universe, the earth, and the human has a perfect design. A poem has a poet so to speak. Or everyone in whatever culture knows it’s wrong, i.e. not right, to hurt children.”

“Wow! Really?”

Before Ernie sat down on the bus bench he concluded, “There is ample and rational evidence for why I am a Christian. So, why are you a Christian?”